by Janeal Falor
Though I've already read the whole thing, and am just picking out bits and pieces, I'm not sure I want to give it away. I grip the book tighter. “May I have it back when you're finished?”
“Of course.”
I bite my lower lip and hand him the book.
He takes it and runs his fingers over the cover. “It means something to you?”
Something, but what I'm not sure. Not more than the novel I pilfered from the library, but different. I want Zade to be kind and caring like Jacob, but without us dying. Maybe Zade is? “I'm not sure as of yet.”
“Maybe we can talk about it after I've had a chance to look through it.” As he settles further onto the bench, I contemplate what that may mean for me. For him. For us. Us.
His next words startle me out of my daydream. “I was wondering if you'd like to deliver invitations.”
“I suppose.”
“I can take them if you wish, or we could have them delivered. I just thought you'd want to.”
“I do.” I smooth a wrinkle from my skirt. “It's just that I've never done anything like this before. Mother always said I was too much trouble to go.”
He rests a hand on mine, stilling my nervous action. “You're good with people, I'm sure you'll do fine.”
He's warm through my glove. Sustaining. “How much time do you think we need to get them delivered?”
“It depends on how many we decide to hand deliver. We should at least visit all the council members, a few other prominent warlock households. After that, how about we see if you feel like doing more?”
It depends on how I feel? “That would be fine.” More than fine. “We should get them out in the next two weeks though. Bethany will get after my manners if we don't.”
He chuckles. “I've a council meeting the day after tomorrow, but none next week.”
The garden is silent. With the spell and us not talking, it's an eerie sort of sound. It gets me thinking about the tarnished park. Zade said I could ask anything. Finally, I work up the courage to say, “The other day at the park, Councilman Barkley said something.”
He rubs his forehead. “He said a lot of things.”
“The tarnished law he spoke of.” When he stays silent, I go farther. “What did he mean by that?”
His face darkens. “Some of the unmarried women have started rebelling.”
“Women like my sisters?” What do they have to do with the tarnished? And why are they rebelling? How are they rebelling?
“Not them. Those you call tarnished. The women are seen as the problem, but I believe the men are rebelling just as much.”
“What are they doing?”
He faces me. “Some have been escaping to Envado and other countries. Enough have left that it's caused a strain on the working force. The council and upper class don't like losing their workers.”
“But there are so many of them. Plus, they're always threatening to make more. And the lower class owes debts that they repay with work. Isn't it enough? Is it really a problem if people want to leave?”
He shrugs. “If it was just that, I don't know, maybe the council would leave them alone. I doubt it, but maybe. What's seen as the real problem is that some of them have started harassing council members and a few powerful warlocks.”
The death threats jump to mind. “Are you in any danger?”
“I'm safe enough.”
It doesn't sound like he really is. The weight of the gun on my leg is comforting, though I'd be able to do little good with it should the need arise. I want him safe. “But what of the problem we had and the others you've mentioned?”
“Not related.”
How can he know? At least this isn't a threat, as well. “And what of the new law? What are they proposing?”
“They are trying to implement more restrictions, and make current laws more severely punished.”
Katherine flashes through my mind. How will this affect her? “What type restrictions?”
“You're very inquisitive today.”
I blush. “Sorry. I didn't mean it.” Except I did, and I want to know. I just don't want to push the one person who's giving me answers too far.
“Don't be sorry, it's a refreshing change.”
He wants me to ask? I lick my lips and say, “Would you tell me more about the restrictions then?”
“Of course.” He clasps his fists together and I lean forward to better catch the details. “All those considered unfit will have their ink spelled to change colors on a monthly basis. They'll have to check in monthly which will include being tracked all the time.”
“How would they be tracked?”
“A certain spell can be used to find those who participate. Mostly, they'll use it to restrict their movements. If a person with their spelled ink goes out of an allowed area, severe pain will befall them. If they don't hurry back, they'll die.
“Die?” My heart is cold.
His nose flares. “In some cases.”
“Will they be speaking of this at the next meeting?”
“They always talk about it.”
This is too much for me to hold still. I stand and cross to a table. Its surface is hard beneath the weight of my hands. They want things worse for Katherine. And what about Katherine's workers? And the other tarnished?
The council wants to make life harder for them. One small step out of line and they could die. Gone forever. Not even something less than a shadow deserves this. And Katherine is worth more than a shadow. She's worth more than any warlock.
Whirling around, I face him. “Will you take me to a meeting with you?”
He jumps to his feet. “You want me to take you to a meeting?”
Though he's a several feet from me, he still towers above me. I cower back. “It was just a thought.”
“Sorry.” He sits back down and rubs the back of his neck. “You want to go to a council meeting?”
“I, um—is there a law against it?” I wish I had access to the laws and not just the Woman's Canon.
For a moment he's quiet. “There's usually only the council and servants, but no. I don't think there's a law against it.”
I step forward. In my mind, I keep the image of Katherine taking one step outside of safety and dying. Nothing that bad will happen to me just from asking. But so much could happen to her. I can be strong enough.
“Maybe you could take me. Make it a show of dominance for the council.”
“No.”
The sharp reply silences me. If I persist, he may break his promise and a fist or hex will fly my way. Except, this is Zade. Not my Father or another warlock. He's only ever encouraged me. I have to believe he's different and if he's not, I want to know it now.
“Why not?”
He looks me straight in the eye. “I don't want you there.”
The reply stings. “Because women are supposed to be silent child bearers.”
His head lowers to his hands. “That's not it. There are things you don't understand.”
“Right.” He still thinks of me as just a woman, even if he doesn't punish me like he should. I'm sick of being just a woman.
He shakes his head before raising it. “Not like that. Just–just let me think about it, all right?”
The answer is so stunning, it takes me a moment to reply. “Yes, of course.” I back away from him. If he wants to think, I'll give him space to do so. “I'll leave you to it.”
Before I can depart, he says, “Don't forget, you're delivering invites with me.”
“I won't.”
I hasten from the salmon spell, feeling nothing as I step though it. Zade sits within its confines, lost in thought. I want to do this. For Katherine. For the other tarnished. If I can't free myself from a warlock's control, I can at least try to help others. But even that depends on what my owner allows.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Delivering invites drags on longer than I expected. It starts at the Grand Chancellor's house. His son, Nathaniel, greets us and ac
cepts the invitation. We don't stay long before moving on to Chancellor Ryan's house.
He's nothing like Zade. Arrogant to the point of thinking we delivered his invitation before anyone else's, even the Grand Chancellor's. I guess being only one of two Chancellors could make a person think they're above everyone, but he pushes the limits. At least none of the other councilmen we visited are as arrogant. We visit several more before heading home. After another long carriage ride this morning, we're ready to deliver more.
I stare at the next door, belonging to a house not far from my Father's where we just came from. No one came to greet us. We had to leave the invitation with the footman. I haven't even seen my littlest sister yet. Does she look more like mother or Father? What will her fate be?
After that disappointment, I was hoping we could be done, but I suppose we do need to deliver as many as we can. I brush one of Katherine's best dresses free of wrinkles and try to prepare myself for another forced conversation. At least they haven't lasted very long. Yet.
“You're doing fine,” Zade says.
Though his confidence in me heartening, I shake my head. Before I can respond, the door opens.
Like before, Zade steps forward and says the line Bethany quietly suggested. “We've brought an invitation for the household.”
“Please, come in.” The thin footman moves aside and motions us inside.
The hall is elegant. Stone tile lines the floor. White walls reach far above even Zade's head, with windows at the top. We enter and the footman closes the door behind us. The morning sun warming us from the many windows, it's a pleasant temperature. Much better than the fall air.
“Please wait and I'll see who's available.”
Once he's gone, I whisper, “It feels good in here.”
“It's spelled to feel the perfect temperature,” Zade says.
“They can do that?”
He nods. “The same spell is on our house, too.”
That explains a lot. “This is nice.”
“Yes. Councilman Daniel is level headed. Hopefully his wife is the same.”
The footman returns. “Follow me.”
He leads us to a nearby sitting room. There are more windows, lighting the golden colors of the room. Matching golden sofas and chairs are clustered together throughout. A woman waits in the middle, by the closest set. “Welcome to our home.”
This is the first time we've been greeted by a woman. It's usually just been a warlock, sometimes a wife in the background. She's much shorter than me and a pudge of a woman. The tattoo above her collar bone is a triangle with v's cut out of each corner, ringed by interlacing triangles. Simple, but unique. Her brown eyes are full of life.
Zade recovers much faster than I do. “Thank you.”
“You'll have to forgive Councilman Daniel, he's unavailable to greet you himself.”
This explains her sole presence. Yet, why let his wife greet us by herself instead of a servant?
“Don't worry about it,” Zade says.
“I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Annabelle, Councilman Daniel's.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I'm Chancellor Zade and this is my intended, Serena.” I give a curtsy enjoying this introduction better than the one Thomas always gave at the tournament. “I've enjoyed working with Councilman Daniel. He's a good man.”
“Yes, he is. Won't you please sit?” She indicates a couch with a table in front of it filled with refreshments.
I perch on the couch. Once I'm arranged, Zade says, “You have some nice hunting grounds. I wonder if you'd let me explore them.”
Annabelle's smile widens. “Please, feel free. Would you like someone to show you around or do you prefer solitary exploration?”
“Solitary exploration suits me.” He kisses my gloved hand. Heat floods my checks. It must have been to help spread word that he's interested in me as a wife. Though it's only to save his life, it doesn't stop the warmth sweeping through me. “Enjoy your visit.” With a bow at Annabelle, he leaves the room.
I stare after him feeling lost. He's taken charge of everything until this point. I squeeze my hands together, wishing they were free of their gloves.
“Just us girls then.” Annabelle settles in a chair across from me.
I pull the invitation out of my handbag and give it to her. Before I have too much time to think on it, I say, “We're hosting a ball and would like the privilege of having the company of your husband and you.”
“Hand delivering the invitations, what a nice touch.” Her eyes brighten as she scans it. “And it's been spelled. However did your future husband come up with the idea?”
After grabbing a cup and saucer off the tables, I take a sip of lemon water, trying to think of what I can say and what I should avoid. “He's Envadi, you know. He has new ideas about a great many things.”
“I've heard.” She grabs her own cup. “If you don't mind my asking, what did he think of your engagement dress?”
The cup slips on my saucer. I hurry to correct it before it spills. Either she was there or word must be traveling about my taboo incident. She's curt. Two can play at that game.
“He approved. Did you know that in Envado, they don't have engagement ceremonies and when they marry, the bride wears a white dress sort of like a ball gown, trimmed with their favorite color of ribbons and flowers?”
Her brows shoot up. “I hadn't heard.” After taking a sip, she says, “I would've enjoyed a wedding dress like that.”
My breath goes out of me. She's perfect to introduce to Katherine. Afraid it will give away my shaking hands, I set my cup down. “If you're interested, I know someone who creates magnificent dresses. She's making my ball gown. In fact, she made this as well.”
“That dress. Really?” She sets her own cup down. “It's beautiful, but does seem a little different.”
I take a deep breath. I want to help Katherine, but I don't want to endanger either of us or Zade. Whatever trouble I get in will reflect poorly on him and make things worse. “The buttons in the back are only decoration. These laces in the front are the true way of tightening and loosening the gown. I often dress and undress myself.”
“Often? You have other dresses like this?” Her face is void of emotion.
Suddenly, I feel as if I've said too much. Given too much away. I haven't mentioned Katherine's name yet. Perhaps she can escape punishment. But I've put myself and Zade in danger.
A moment passes. Though I try hard not to, I end up fidgeting with my gloves. How can I reply to ease her fears about me?
“I'm afraid I've been too frank,” she says. “I didn't mean to scare you. It's just, your engagement dress was a welcome change. To know you've also managed to change your everyday dresses is unbelievable. I'd love to know who your seamstress is and utilize her.”
Relief rushes through me. “Your husband wouldn't mind?”
“No more than yours.” She grins.
But will she mind the seamstress? “What are your feelings on the tarnished?”
She mumbles, “We, uh, don't have any tarnished servants.”
“You don't? How do you manage without them?” I've never heard of such a thing before. Even Zade has tarnished servants.
A high-pitched laugh bounces through the room. “Oh, we get by.”
“Your husband must be owed a lot.”
She grabs a pastry. “Before getting on the council, he was a banker. Met a lot of people who were trying their best to stay out of debt but struggling. He now hires some of them and pays them to help keep them out of debt.”
This is going better than expected. “Our owners are more alike than we first thought. Mine also pays his workers, though he also employs the tarnished at the same price instead of giving them just food and shelter.”
The pastry falls to her lap. “He pays the tarnished?”
“He does.”
She picks up the fallen pastry and sets in on a plate. Then she brushes the crumbs from her skirt. “I've never heard
of such a thing. It may be something I should mention to Daniel.” Her voice trails off.
“Have you spoken to many tarnished?”
“Not a one.”
I can do this. “My seamstress is a tarnished.”
“Your seamstress? How did that come about?”
“None of the regulars would make what I desired for my engagement gown.”
Her eyes widen. “But she did?”
“Yes. I've discovered the tarnished are very capable.” More than capable.
“Perhaps I'll get one. The ease of dressing myself would have advantages.”
I don't mention the breeches. That's too far for me. Or the gun slit in my pocket. I've no idea how she would react to it and I've pushed everyone's safety enough for one day.
She scoots closer to the edge of her chair. “Who's this seamstress?”
I give Katherine's information, all the while silently hoping good things come of it and not ill. After that, our conversation drifts into the more mundane. Despite the shift in topics, she's still not afraid to say what she means.
A while later, Zade returns. Having him back in the room fills me with relief, though he's breathing hard and his clothes look a little ragged. My shoulders roll down as the tension seeps from them. I feel as if I succeeded with Annabelle. At least I hope I've helped Katherine without making anything worse for Zade.
“Your grounds are great. If Daniel ever needs a hunting partner, be sure to let me know.”
“Only if you'll bring Serena to keep me company.”
He grins at me. “A woman does need a break from her intended once in a while.”
She laughs. “I'll be sure to give him word.”
We're shown out and Zade escorts me to the carriage.
“You two seemed to get along.”
“Better than expected. She has Katherine's information, though only time will tell if she makes use of it.”
“Good to hear. I had high hopes for them. Let's end the day on that note.” He scans the area around us.
I look around, but see nothing. “What are you looking for?”
“Someone followed us here.” His jaw tightens.